Sanborn commands a ton of attention from opposing defenses, but few have solved the puzzle of slowing her down. The Nebraska Christian junior is a sure bet to score on quick sets in front of the setter, but the Eagles are keen on using their star in other ways, too. Sanborn took plenty of swings on the left pin and could soar over hands with ruthless pace. The result was 250 kills on a near-.300 hitting clip, and Sanborn’s influence should grow as Nebraska Christian pursues a postseason return.

Nebraska Christian is back in the tournament hunt after multiple postseason appearances this decade. Sanborn has helped engineer this Eagle resurgence with a career-high three kills per set on a 0.306 attacking percentage. This physical athlete is at her best when roaming the middle blocker position, but Sanborn can also generate clutch sideout swings on the outside. No matter where she is along the net, Sanborn draws a lot of attention in a Nebraska Christian offense with plenty of balance and firepower. That’s a recipe for tournament success.

We can always count on Nebraska Christian to find some stat-stuffing middle blockers. Sanborn burst onto the scene with 2.1 kills per set while hitting at a solid 0.267 clip for the Eagles. Like most years, Nebraska Christian boasted one of Class D1’s most efficient offenses in 2024. This was aided by some underclassman talent, and Sanborn’s development is just getting started.